This is part two of my conversation with visual storytelling expert Jude Charles. If you haven’t yet listened to part one, go back and check that out first. “As a freelancer in 2023, it is no longer an option whether or not you tell stories, it is imperative for you to tell stories.” In this episode, Jude shares more tips and examples of how visual storytelling can build trust with clients, and we dive into the practicalities of using video to market ourselves. We cover: 5 different ways to tell an unforgettable story using visual strategies Why (and how) you should take people behind the sce ..read more

Today we're taking a look at what the future of freelancing might look like as working culture evolves. My guest is Paul Evans, director of Forth Estate Creative and creator of the Freelance Fellowship platform. As a small business owner and someone who hires freelancers, Paul sees the opportunities and challenges from both sides. Our conversation unpicks what recent shifts in working culture might mean for freelancers, including: The drivers behind the growth of the freelance economy (plus benefits and pitfalls to watch out for) The gig economy and workers' rights How to spot knowledge gaps ..read more

Keeping the project pipeline flowing means we always need to be on the lookout for the next lead. But rather than chasing down new clients, why not focus on creating an amazing experience for your existing clients? Happy clients are more likely to come back again and again – and refer you to their contacts.  My guest today is Gigi Davarashvili from Yocory, an all-in-one business hub for freelancers and small business owners. Gigi joins me to chat about how she creates memorable experiences for her clients that keep them coming back, including: The difference between "good enough" and ..read more

Support the podcast! If you find this episode helpful and you'd like to show your appreciation, consider leaving a tip over at ko-fi.com/15minutefreelancer. Donations help cover the cost of running the podcast and are very much appreciated :) It's the last episode of 2022, which means it's time for everyone's favourite format at this time of year: the annual review. Do you review the ups and downs of the previous year? Do you set goals for the following year? We don't need to get too corporate about it, but since we don't have a boss to do a performance review, we have to do our own. In thi ..read more

This week I take you behind the scenes at the Magazine Street conference.  (You may remember my interview with Nikki Simpson, organiser of Magazine Street, back in Episode 75.) I share my top takeaways from a few of the many brilliant speakers who shared their stories of creativity, resilience and problem-solving – relevant to all freelancers, not just those in the magazine industry.  A cocktail-loving couple who demonstrated the power of listening to your audience A brand new magazine creator with a simple idea that's already inspiring others  A remarkable turnaround story t ..read more

"All freelancers should have an email newsletter for their business, 100%, without a doubt!" My guest today is Eman Ismail, email strategist, email copywriter extraordinaire and host of the excellent Mistakes That Made Me podcast. If you've been thinking about starting a newsletter, this episode is packed with tips to help you get set up, grow your list, and use email marketing to attract clients. We discuss: Why freelancers shouldn't overlook email marketing as a key way to build their business Why email is actually better than social media for marketing Eman's insights on what to write and ..read more

Are you missing a trick if you don't use TikTok to market your freelance business? My guest today is Chloe Barnes, a freelance copywriter at The Write Chloe who successfully operates a TikTok-first marketing strategy for her business. Chloe shares her top tips for navigating the platform and makes creating “real person TV” easy and effective, including: What makes TikTok different from other social media apps Why you should think of TikTok as “real person TV” How she got her first client via TikTok when she had just 29 followers How to find clients on TikTok (or help them find you) How to cre ..read more

One way to charge more (and work less) as a freelancer is to shift from implementing the client's brief to selling strategy. When you help to set the direction for a project, you're also far less likely to find yourself navigating the awkward gaps in expectations that can arise from missing or outdated strategies. But how do you transition to selling strategy? What do the deliverables look like? How much should you charge? My guest today is Austin Church, a brand strategist, business coach, host of the brilliant Freelance Cake podcast and all-round entrepreneur. He shares his experience of s ..read more

Do you have a niche or specialism as a freelancer? Choosing a niche can be a powerful way to use your expertise to stand out, attract clients and charge more – but what if you want to change your mind? People have big opinions on this topic, but the truth is you can run a perfectly successful business whether you decide to niche or not. And crucially, that decision isn't irreversible. In this episode, I'm joined by website consultant Tom Garfield to hear about his experience of choosing (and changing) his business niche. We talk about: Different ways to specialise and make yourself stand ..read more

So you know you should be working ON your business as well as IN it, but how do you actually do that when you're busy? If you've got more work than you can handle, need some help to trim your to-do list, or want to outsource but are not quite sure where to start, this episode is for you. Outsourcing expert Lisa Tennant runs a virtual assistant service and joins me on this episode to talk about all things delegation and outsourcing. Letting someone else into our business for the first time can be a daunting prospect, but Lisa shares some great tips about how to go about it. Our chat includes ..read more